In court-decided eviction outcomes for Stevensville, MT, tenants prevail in roughly 13.6% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
27d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Stevensville, MT until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 27 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.0-2.7k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Stevensville, MT costs landlords $991 to $2,705 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$1,064
27% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Stevensville, MT is $1,064 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 27% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
39.8%
of households
39.8% of occupied housing units in Stevensville, MT are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
15.6%
6.2% unemp.
15.6% of Stevensville, MT residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 6.2%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +40.6% (2024)
3.9
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
3.9
State political climate
Montana legislature & governorship
1.7
Economic stress
15.6% poverty · 6.2% unemp.
7.2
Supply constraint
$1,064 average · 39.8% renters
7.2
Rent Control risk
27.3% of income on rent
5.6
Eviction process difficulty
27 days filing → judgment
1.1
Tenant organizing strength
39.8% renters
8.4
Housing court bias
County bench composition
6.3
Geographic context
Risk heat across Stevensville and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Stevensville compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Ravalli County
Low
#7of 10 cities
#7 of 10 cities in Ravalli County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Montana
Elevated
#153of 496 cities
#153 of 496 cities in Montana for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.2
/ 10 · VERY LOW
The verdict
A Very low-tier market.
Composite 2.2/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.2 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
27d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $1,064/mo. A contested eviction takes 27 days and costs $991-$2,705 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
39.8%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 2,130 residents, 39.8% rent. 27% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 15.6% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
3.9
Local + regional
The politics
Light-statute interior market.
Local & regional political climate score 3.9 and 3.9 (GOP margin +40.6% (2024)). State climate at 1.7, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
1.7
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 1.7/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 1.1, housing court bias 6.3, rent-control risk 5.6. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-3.9 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
7.2
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 7.2. Supply constraint: 7.2. The numbers behind those: 15.6% poverty, 6.2% unemployment, 27% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Stevensville sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Stevensville · 27d · ~$1.8k all-in ($68/day) · score 2.2National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0-4 4-7 7-10
Landlording in Stevensville, Montana, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.2/10 (VERY LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Stevensville is a city of 2,130 residents where 39.8% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 27.3% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,064/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Stevensville eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 1.1/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Stevensville closes 27 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Stevensville's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 6.3/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Stevensville runs $991 to $2,705 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1-2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 27 days of typical timeline and $1,064/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 8.4/10 in Stevensville, and the city has limited rent control exposure (5.6/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Montana, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Stevensville: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a VERY LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Montana's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $2,705 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Stevensville
Trap · 5.6/10
Comparative benchmarking matters in markets like this. Stevensville's 4.6/10 is below the Montana state average. Rent-control-risk sub-score: 5.6/10. See the nearby cities grid below for direct A-vs-B comparison.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What if my tenant pays part of the rent after the 3-day notice?
Don't accept partial payment if you intend to evict. Accepting partial rent can "waive" your 3-day notice, meaning you'd have to start the notice process all over again. If you want to accept partial payment and still proceed, get a written agreement with the tenant stating the payment doesn't waive your right to evict and outlines a clear payment plan for the remainder. Better yet, avoid it unless you're truly resolving the issue.
Q2
Can I evict a tenant in Stevensville for having a pet if my lease says "no pets"?
Yes, if your lease clearly prohibits pets and the tenant brings one in, that's a lease violation. You'd typically issue a 14-day notice to cure or quit. This gives them 14 days to remove the pet or move out. If they don't comply, you can proceed with an eviction filing. Always check your lease terms and follow the correct notice period for the specific violation.
Q3
Is "cash for keys" legal in Montana?
Absolutely. "Cash for keys" is a voluntary agreement where you pay a tenant to vacate the property quickly and peacefully. It's a settlement, not an eviction. It can save you significant time and money compared to a contested eviction. Always get the agreement in writing, specifying the payment amount, move-out date, and condition of the property.
Q4
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Stevensville?
While you can represent yourself in Justice Court, it's generally advisable to consult or hire an attorney, especially if the tenant contests the eviction or you're unsure about the process. Mistakes in paperwork or procedure can lead to delays or dismissal, costing you more in the long run. Given the housing court bias score of 6.3/10, having legal counsel can be a significant advantage. For more on the process, see our Montana eviction process step-by-step.
Q5
What if my Stevensville tenant simply abandons the property?
If you believe a tenant has abandoned the property, you need to follow specific procedures under MCA § 70-24-430. You can't just change the locks. You typically need to send a notice of abandonment to their last known address, giving them a certain number of days to respond. If they don't, you can then take possession. Consult an attorney to ensure you follow the rules to avoid wrongful eviction claims.
Q6
Are there any rent control laws in Stevensville or Montana?
No. Montana has no statewide rent control laws, and Stevensville does not have local rent control ordinances. This means you generally have the freedom to set and adjust rents as market conditions dictate, provided you give proper notice for rent increases (typically 30 days for month-to-month tenancies). Our Montana rent control rules page has more information.
A 2.2/10 places Stevensville in the 75th percentile of Montana cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Stevensville (2.2/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
